I'm Losing 20 Pounds - Want to Join Me?

I’ve decided to lose twenty pounds.  My weight has always been a roller coaster.  In high school and through college, I was always on the high end of a good weight for my height.  (5’8”)  After my third child, I really got in shape.  Then, I got pregnant.   About five years ago, I went on a massive diet and managed to get down to skin and bones. I wanted to see what I looked like really skinny – not so great.

Once we started homeschooling, about three years ago, my life became more still.  We run a lot of places, but much of my time is spent sitting on my bum.  Between schooling, working online, blogging and my penchant for web surfing – I sit A LOT.

So, the hubby and I have decided to get in better shape. 

I LOVE to eat.  My kids and hubby love to eat.  The problem is the kids like kids food, and, for the most part, so does the hubby.  Add to that our hectic lifestyle, and we eat a lot of unhealthy foods.  Besides that – eating healthy is expensive!  We'll have to figure this part out.

But, that isn’t the total motivation – I am always tired and achy.  I wanna see if losing weight and getting more active changes that.

Anyone care to join me?  I thought about a blog hop.  Not a competition mind you, just a way to support each other as we get to our goal weight.  Leave me a comment if you're interested and we'll kick it off next week.

Thoughts?

Youngest Turns 12!

Youngest turns 12 on Wednesday.  We celebrated today because I’ll be going out of town for a two week workshop.  I hate to miss his birthday, but he knows it is a big opportunity (more on that soon), so he’s graciously celebrated early.

After having a sleepover with friends (yawn!), we took him to his favorite restaurant – Sticky Fingers.  A big plate of cheese fries and chicken later we returned home for gifting.

Yes, the trashbag is a gift.  Some things just don't fit in a bag or are conducive to wrapping paper.

One of his requests for this birthday was a body pillow.  :-)  He got a cover for it as well.  Given his lack of sleepover sleep and a big day, that pillow is going to feel really good tonight!

His dad got him a gift card to the Apple Apps Store.  Youngest has been saving up since November to buy himself an IPod Touch.  He's wanted one badly for about three years.  He has saved about $120 dollars to date.  So, Dad got him the App card so he'd be ready to fill it with his favorites (Pocket God) when the purchase was made.

His last gift was fun for all of us.  Knowing how hard he'd saved, we thought the best thing to do was to reward his efforts by making up the difference.

Yep, the IPod Touch he'd been saving for.  I did use his money and let him know how proud we were of his saving.  That face is priceless!  Sissy is smiling for him in the background.  She's the one that showed him how it works and how to download from the Apps store.  A fun bonding time for both of them.  I may have to pry it out of his hands tonight.

I can't believe my "baby" is twelve.  He's been a blessing each and every day, I can't wait to see what the future holds for this amazingly creative young man.  :-)

High Green Belts! Woot!

The boys and I take Taekwondo together.  It's a great activity to keep us in shape, meet lots of amazing people, and learn discipline all while striving to become good at Taekwondo. 

Today, Middle and the Demo Team performed and then we tested for our high green belts.  This is our sixth belt!  Very exciting.  We've been so blessed with TKD - not only because of the physical aspects, but also the moral aspects taught daily.  At the end of each lesson, we recite the 10 Committments. 

1.  I will be loyal to my country
2.  I will honor my parents
3.  I will love my family and cooperate with them
4.  I will be faithful to my friends
5.  I will respect my elders and care for my juniors
6.  I will establish a positive relationship with my teachers
7.  I will treat all living things with care
8.  I will never seek advantage of those who are weaker
9.  I will only use Taekwondo to benefit myself and others
10.  I will always finish what I start

You can't get much better lessons than that!  What I love is that the instructors all embody these committments making it easy for the kids, and adults, to want to live up to them as well.

Middle Performing with the Demo Team

Middle Performing Self Defense

Three of us high blocking for testing

Middle and Youngest Testing

Middle and Youngest with Instructor O and their new belts.

All Children are NOT Created Equal

I remember growing up thinking that anything my sister got I had to get too.  I came by this belief honestly as my mother was obsessive about giving us exactly equal shares of everything.  In fact, at Christmas time, she would buy us the same clothes only different colors.

As we grew, I began to resent this.  Partially because anything I got ahead of my sister was better by the time she got it.  I got a stereo with a turntable; a few years later she got one with a CD player. There’s no justifying this behavior – it was just plain spoiled. 

When I graduated high school, a friend’s family invited me to go with them to California.  It was a great trip.  As a result, my mother made sure to take my sister when she graduated.  Always equal.  Though, not really.

So…  When I had kids, I knew the pitfalls of striving for equal when each child is his/her own individual.  There are times when one gets more than the other – it’s completely situational and has nothing to do with who is loved more.  Still, jealousy rears its ugly head.

Even though situations are completely different, my older kids want equality.  In fact, they even tend to forget about what they got when they were younger now that their young siblings are wanting things like phones, Ipods, etc.  Why does Youngest get a laptop when I need a new one?  Because, we already got you one! 

We paid for our daughter to go away to college.  She wanted the “college experience.”  While she got lots of experience, not much of it was academic.  We learned.  Now it’s – “Why won’t you pay for me to have an apartment when Oldest got to live in one when she went to college?  I hate living at home – you all bug me.”

Simple:

1.  We learned that was the wrong way to go

2.  You are two different people with different maturity levels and abilities

3.  You are attending locally

4.  Energy has to match investment or it’s a poor investment

5.  Saying we bug you is probably not the right approach to getting treated like an adult

There’s the kid in me that fully understands why Oldest Boy wants his turn and resents not getting the same chances.  However, there’s the adult in me that knows that it’s not about equality it’s about each individual.

I think rather than equality, we need balance.  Balance allows us to cheer on strengths, be supportive during times of weakness, and look at each situation objectively making a decision that’s best for all concerned. 

Yes – I believe I choose balance over equality.

Unexpected Birthday Presents

My husband can be quite creative when under pressure.  He took matters into his own hands for my birthday, and this is what he came up with.

1.  An Outdoor Umbrella

I’ve had these in the past, but was too cheap to buy the base thus a bad windstorm broke the two umbrellas I’ve purchased. (In retrospect, the base would have been a good idea.)  So, umbrella and base so that I can sit by the pool while the kiddos swim and not melt.

 2.  A Firepit

This isn’t something I would have thought of – especially when it’s in the 90’s with 100% humidity (or at least feels that way).  However, I really like the idea.  In the fall, we’ll enjoy sitting on the patio with a nice fire to keep us warm.  My hubby likes traditions.  He wants to make Smores on Sunday evening a tradition.  J

 3.  A BB Gun

Yes, you read that right.  I used to love to shoot.  Growing up, my dad had a .45 semi-auto that we took out to the range.  That would have been a tad bit excessive!  Lol  However, a BB rifle was perfect. 

We went out and had a good time shooting at targets. When it cools down, it’ll really be fun.

Of course - it was Mom that hit the bullseye!  :-)

Thank you Honey for taking the time to do the unexpected!

Freedom… To Abstain from Church?

If you’re like us, the sermon this Sunday was on freedom.  Christian freedom, the freedom to be a Christian in this country, and the amazing men and women that fight to keep us free.

One aspect of freedom my older kids want is the freedom to abstain from going to church.  I’m talking young adults really – 18 and 20.  They both feel that church isn’t for them, and they shouldn’t be made to go.

The house rule has always been – if you’re home, you’re going to church.   I’ve allowed for the fact that not every church fits our family’s personality.  My husband and my youngest son attend a church that the hubby has been going to his whole life.  Their youth group is small and we never fit in, so my older three wanted a different venue.  We’ve tried three or four churches now – we’re still searching.  I’m OK with searching.  I’m not OK with quitting.

So…  What to do?  I’ve always believed the argument that you wouldn’t let your kids say they don’t want to go to school  - education is too important.  Isn’t spirituality even more so?  So, church shouldn’t be optional either.  However, I have to wonder.  What am I accomplishing dragging them to church?  I hope we’re modeling the fact that God is center in our lives and we can devote time to Him.  However, am I making them resent church?  Religion?

Of course, if they didn’t have to go, the trickledown theory would then work its way to my 13 and 11 year olds as well.  I don’t want them waiting for the time they get to choose and not go to church.  I realize their issues aren’t with God – it’s about a human institution.  They don’t like the ceremony, the sermon or the early hours.  But, doesn’t God call on us to commune with Christians? 

Clearly, I wish we had a strong church relationship that all the kids enjoyed, and maybe that is in our future.  But – what to do now? 

Do you have older teens that don’t want to attend church?  How do you handle it?

Help! I Need a Birthday Present Idea Stat!

My husband just called me and asked - what do you want for your birthday? I turn 41 next week, and he's on a mission to get me a present.

Wow – what a great question! He has been asking me and asking me for the past couple weeks, and I just don’t have an answer.

My standard answer is – full body massage! Yes, that’s what I want from him. Of course, he argues if he doesn’t buy it, it doesn’t count. Hmmm… I just don't do the spa thing, so buying that is out!

He has now threatened to go spend a bunch of money if I don’t come up with something to tell him. That’s a quality threat as I am frugal and he’s not. So, I tend to set the bar on spending. If he moves the bar, I might have a heart attack for my birthday.

So – what do I want? Clothes? No. I don’t need or want anything electronic right now.  Don’t need cooking stuff. Have my homeschooling stuff for next year. Not interested in any hobby right now that needs resupplying. Already have way too many animals. Just redid a couple of rooms. Not into jewelry or makeup. Hmmm…

Ideas? Help! SOS!

Don't get me wrong – it’s a great predicament to be in. So blessed… So so blessed.

Suggestions?